The Villa Grove/Heritage boys’ basketball season ended in Wednesday’s semifinal round with a 56-40 loss to the host Spartans.

After three lead changes in the early minutes, SJ-O shot ahead 5-4 as part of a 16-0 run. The Hawks were unable to recapture the lead although they pulled within six points (42-36) in the game’s final seven minutes before SJ-O went on a 14-4 run to end the game.

Jake Eversole nailed a team-high 16 points. Logan Nohren added 11 points.

On Tuesday, the Hawks picked a great time to earn their first overtime win of the season.

VG/H used the extra four minutes to power past Tolono Unity 67-63 and secure a spot in the Class 2A regional semifinals.

Eversole led the way for the Hawks, hitting the 30-point mark for the second game in a row. His 30 points included four three-point baskets.

Nohren added 16 points to the VG/H cause and Blake Smith contributed 12 points.

Unity led 15-6 after one quarter and 27-22 at halftime. VG/H took a 40-36 lead into the final period. The teams ended in a 55-55 deadlock after regulation.

Until Tuesday, VG/H was 0-2 for the season in overtime games.

VG/H ends the season with a 21-11 overall record. SJ-O snapped the team’s season-best five-game winning streak in the regionals.

For the season, Eversole was the team’s top scorer in 17 of the 23 games in which he played, including the final nine.

Nohren led – or shared – the team lead in scoring in nine games. Both Eversole and Nohren hit the 30-point mark in two games.

Blake Smith was the scoring leader in five games, Issac Mahoe in two games and Ierik Sorenson in one game.

Eversole (40), Smith (22), Mahoe (17) and Sam Reno (16) were the team’s top three-point marksmen.

Coach Corey White didn’t know what to expect coming into a season where four starters from the previous year’s 20-win team had to be replaced and one of those candidates – Ezra Ely – never played basketball this season following a football injury that sidelined him throughout most of the winter.

“For the first month, we were trying to see the best combination,” White said. “By mid-January we figured it out and took off from there (winning nine of 11 games before Wednesday).”

For the majority of the season, four juniors and senior Sorenson were in the starting lineup.

“We’ll have a nice nucleus back,” White said. “It’s great to have back-to-back 20-win seasons and we hope to make it three in a row next year.

“We’ll keep building and try to get to the point where we can play for a regional championship and win one.”

In addition to the underclassmen who played prominent roles this season, Ely is expected to return next year along with junior Nick Coffin, who suffered a season-ending injury in December.

In addition to Sorenson, Reno and Anthony Arbuckle were the other seniors who were a part of the Hawks’ regular rotation this season.

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The Hawks trailed after each of the first three quarters on Tuesday at Arcola, but thanks to a 22-point fourth quarter, rallied for a 62-54 win over the Purple Riders.

Arcola led 28-22 at halftime and took a 45-40 lead into the final period.

Jake Eversole led a balanced scoring attack for VG/H with 16 points. Carson Howard scored 14 points and Logan Nohren added 12 points.

The Hawks hit 21 free throws in the win, including five by Ierik Sorenson, four by Sam Reno and two by Anthony Arbuckle. That trio accounted for all 11 of their points by virtue of free throws.

VG/H (13-8) returns to Arcola on Friday for first-round action in the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament.

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Nohren had the team’s previous high scoring game with 24 points.

Issac Mahoe also reached a season-high at Chrisman with 12 points. Ierik Sorenson chipped in with 10 points.

VG/H put up 20 first-quarter points.

In Nohren’s final game of 2019 in December (against Centralia Christ Our Rock), he shattered the program’s single-game rebounding record by grabbing 24.

The Hawks (11-5) return to action on Tuesday at Heritage against Okaw Valley.

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Logan Nohren scored a season-high 24 points on Tuesday, but the Hawks were beaten at Tuscola 64-43.

Ierik Sorenson scored five points for VG/H (6-3), which trailed 35-18 at halftime. Tuscola has a 5-0 season record.

The Hawks return to action on Friday with a game at Heritage against Arthur Okaw Christian.

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The Hawks tallied 20 first-quarter points in a rare Thursday night home game, but were unable to keep pace with visiting Schlarman Academy thereafter and fell 74-69 despite reaching their highest point total of the season.

Jake Eversole and Logan Nohren were the top VG/H scorers with 17 points apiece. Ierik Sorenson added a season-high 11 points. Blake Smith chipped in with eight points.

The Hawks (4-2) return to action on Tuesday at Westville.

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